The Chairman of the South-West
Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said there shouldn’t be
unnecessary debate over the frozen accounts of #EndSARS promoters by the
Central Bank of Nigeria.
The apex bank obtained a court
order to freeze the account of 20 #EndSARS campaigners after linking the funds
in their account to suspected terrorism financing.
However, Akeredolu stated that
this is not the first time bank accounts were frozen by the CBN.
He said those whose bank accounts
were frozen should approach a competent court to justify the “legitimate”
source and use of funds in the frozen accounts.
Akeredolu, who is also the Ondo
State Governor noted that the matter was discussed last Sunday at the meeting
of governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the region held in
Lagos in the aftermath of the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests.
The governor said the leaders
agreed at the meeting to take certain steps on the frozen accounts but decided
not to announce their decisions to the media.
He stated, “The issue of the
accounts that were frozen was discussed but nobody said in the communique that
we appreciated the government for freezing the accounts.
“We know that there are ways to
get a few things done without putting it in the public glare and start
contestation on the pages of newspapers. So, we know what we decided and we
know what we want to do about that.
“The issue, when it was raised,
generated debate. But it was so clear that some people were getting to fund
this for reasons other than #EndSARS. So, if we know money moved from some
accounts that were suspicious, do you say the government should keep quiet? It
is something we are looking into.”
Akeredolu also reacted to the
youth representatives who pulled out of the Lagos State Panel of Judiciary
Inquiry probing cases of police brutality and the Lekki shootings.
The governor urged them to resume
sitting while they challenge the CBN action in court.
He said, “If I were counsel to
those people, I will not advise them not to appear at that panel.
“Accounts are frozen, is that the
first time it is done? If your account was frozen, you justify why the money
was there. You explain what use you have used the money. If it is, okay, we
paid this caterer to give food to these boys when they were there. We spent
money before the hoodlums took over, it will be explained, people will know and
the accounts will be de-frozen.
“If for instance, my account was
frozen, all I will do is to go to court and explain. Politicians’ accounts have
been frozen and all they do is to go to court to explain and the court will
say, leave the accounts and the accounts will be de-frozen and they get their
money.”
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